 | |
|
RiverbendAcademyArts.com : History
|
History
|
In 2004, a small group of musicians and music educators in conjunction with St. Paul's Episcopal Church provided the initial vision and start-up commitment to begin a music school in Henderson, Kentucky.
Seeds of the school were tested over 18 months using space in St. Paul's main church building to establish need. Subsequently, four instructors and 22 students moved in to The Mann House - a Victorian home at 320 Center Street in January, 2005. With only a banner and word of mouth, in the first 20 weeks of 2005, enrollment exceeded 50 students.
As a greater need grew apparent, a revived leadership group from all walks of life was organized in the summer of 2006. This leadership group established a new name, mission, vision, purpose and proceeded to incorporate the organization.
The new board of Riverbend Academy quickly discovered the lovely Victorian Mann Home was not compliant with ADA and safety standards. Riverbend again began taking advantage of some rent-free classroom space within downtown churches. In the meantime, the board scoured the downtown looking for a central operation location. Riverbend Academy found its new home on the first floor of the beautiful former Soaper Hotel at 145 North Main Street. The Soaper provided the perfect highly visible base location while still working with downtown churches for overflow classrooms as needed.
It is a long-term goal of Riverbend Academy to purchase and renovate existing, historically significant buildings and/or construct new facilities in downtown Henderson. By owning property in downtown Henderson, this will best sustain the organization and benefit the downtown economy well into the future. It is anticipated that a capital campaign will be needed to achieve this likely future phase of growth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
